Hello Folks:

Remember my ?shifting problem? I reported to you all a few months ago.

Remember I was told it would cost $1,500.00 to split the case and repair the transmission.

Well, the transmission is fine. The problem (no first or second gear) was due to a Honda design flaw in the shifting mechanism.

Apparently Honda has addressed the problem by manufacturing new shifting components. Unfortunately, the old system was not covered under warranty.

In a nutshell, there is a set bolt in the shifting system that has not been secured with lock tight. This bolt backs out (due to vibration) creating play from the shifting arm and causes acute wear in the thing-a-ma-gig that is attached to the thing-a-ma-bob.

I was told that my Rancher is a great little unit however NEVER shift under power and NEVER shift from forward to reverse (or vise versa) while the unit is rolling. These actions will accelerate the wearing down of the metal tDoo-Hickey!

My final cost?.$350.00.

They have a lot of new 07?s in the store, and I am seriously considering purchasing a Rubicon or other larger unit (I?m 6?3? @ 240lbs) as so my wife and I can Quad together. I was absolutely shocked when I saw the price tags. Anyone got a large Quad that is not beat to *#&$ that they might want to part with. I would rather have a newer used unit than an old unit. Is there a best time to buy a new Quad.


Well, that?s it from New York. Today I am driving 2 hours to pick it up and hopefully, get in the woods. This is the last weekend of gun season. It is 18 degrees this morning. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Take care and thank you all for you?re input and advise.

Chris

 

The only mechanical isssues Honda had w/ the Ranchers related to shifting is weak gearshift plates. Honda issued a product update (NOT a recall) to replace the gearshift plates w/ stronger parts on '00 & '01 Ranchers. Because it is product update and not a recall, customers had about 4 years to get this replaced for free. If not done, the gearshift plate could break and not allow the machine to shift at all.

This part was not an issue on '05 models which you say you have. It's still possible it could break. I have not heard of any other problems Honda was having w/ these machines so I'm curious to exactly what your failure was.

 

Hey Pro Rider:

I will get the name of the part that wore out and a better discription as to what happened when I pick it up today.

Thanks.

Chris

 

Hello all:

My shifting problem has been resolved!

The bolt backed out and damaged the shift arm.

The gearshift arm was replaced along with a spring and two other actuating arms.

Apparently the gearshift arm had a 45-degree wear off of the top section preventing 1st and 2nd gear engagement.

I have the old part and I can see the filed off metal. They also changed the oil and fixed some minor cosmetic issues.

I am happy with the results as well as the price.

Thanks to all who posted.

Chris

PS. Merry Christmas.